Iron deficiency anemia is a common medical cause of fatigue. Anemia results in a lack of red blood cells which carry oxygen from the lungs to other organs and tissues. This can be a problem for women of child-bearing age because of heavy menstrual periods. Causes could be mineral deficiency, blood loss, internal bleeding, or chronic diseases like cancer, kidney failure or arthritis. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, chest pains, difficulty sleeping and headaches.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system has turned against itself. The immune system attacks healthy joint tissue, and causes irreversible damage to cartilage and bone. Symptoms include morning stiffness around and in joints that lasts at least one hour before there is maximum improvement, and at least one joint area swollen in wrist, knuckles or middle joint of the fingers. X-rays typically confirm bone breakdown in wrist or hand joints.

Both types of thyroid disease can cause fatigue: hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. The thyroid is a gland the size of a knot in a man’s tie, situated in the front of the neck that produces hormones that control the body’s metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is when there is too much hormone released into the bloodstream.

Signs include fatigue and weakness, first noticed in the thighs. There is also increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, increased heart rate and shorter, less frequent menstrual periods. Hypothyroidism occurs when insufficient levels of the hormone is released by the thyroid. Symptoms are fatigue, inability to concentrate, constipation, feeling cold all the time, muscle soreness with minor activity and heavier and more frequent menstrual cycles.

Those are just some of the conditions that can cause fatigue. Most in the know recommend that you make some lifestyle changes first, integrating healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits into one’s daily life. After really sticking to these changes, if you are still feeling lousy tired, it is time to see your physician to ferret out the cause of your fatigue.